Teams are starting to “rumble” Ireland and they will have to adapt quickly or else they will “fall apart”, former Australia wing David Campese has warned.
Andy Farrell’s side will face a resurgent Wallabies side in 10 days’ time in Dublin, a match-up that sees Joe Schmidt return to Ireland where he was head coach between 2013 and 2019.
Ireland are ranked number two in the world and are the Six Nations champions but have lost three of their last six games.
Discipline has suddenly become a major issue with Ireland conceding 26 penalties in the last two games, a defeat to New Zealand and a narrow win over Argentina, with both matches filled with uncharacteristic errors.
Prior to the Autumn Nations Series, Ireland claimed a series draw against South Africa but were overpowered and out-played for large spells across the two Tests and needed a brace of late dropgoals from Ciarán Frawley to win the second game.
Despite a superb opening-round Six Nations victory over France, Ireland didn’t get close to that level in wins over Italy, Wales and Scotland, while they missed out on a Grand Slam shot with a lacklustre defeat in England.
Campese’s broadside against Ireland, and “the rugby league influence of Andy Farrell,” comes ahead of Schmidt’s return.
The New Zealander led Ireland team to three Six Nations titles during his tenure, but his final year was a disaster as the side lost two championship games and were beaten by Japan in the pool stages of the World Cup.
The charge, back then, was that Ireland had been figured out by opposition and failed to adapt.
In 2023, as in 2019, it was New Zealand, beaten in 2018 and twice in 2022 by Ireland, who knocked the Irish out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stages.
“I think people are starting to rumble them,” Campese told Vision4Sport.
“You can’t keep playing the same style week in week out. Things will start to fall apart.
“They have some young guys now making simple mistakes.”
Campese, who won the 1991 World Cup with Australia, added that he is not a fan of the rugby league influx.
Farrell, who will take a sabbatical from the Ireland set-up to take charge of the Lions after November, began his professional career as a player with Wigan before switching to union aged 29.
He was part of the England and Lions coaching team as a defence specialist before joining Schmidt with Ireland in 2016.
Shaun Edwards with France and Kevin Sinfield at England are among other prominent former rugby league players to bring their expertise to union and it’s a trend that Campese (below) is not a fan of.
“[Ireland] play a very structured game,” said the 62-year-old.
“That’s the rugby league influence of Andy Farrell.
“That is his background. Ireland have been playing that way for a number of years.
“In 2022, Ireland beat the All Blacks down there yet in the World Cup, New Zealand changed their style and Ireland did not.
“That is what happens in rugby. If you don’t change or move on, you get exposed.
“I am not a fan of rugby league’s influence in union. It all started back in 1996 and everyone got players and defence coaches across.
“Rugby union is no longer a game about attack, it is all about defence.
“Ireland rely on their defence and hope opponents make a mistake which they can capitalise on. Rugby never used to be like that.”
